Morning News free-lancer goes to Washington

Posted: Thursday, January 20, 2005

I clung to my coveted orange ticket the size of an index card as if I were holding a Mega-million Lotto ticket. The ticket read simply, "Inauguration Ceremonies, January 20, 2005, Admit bearer to West Front of Capitol."

I ended up 20 feet from President Bush as he was sworn in for his second term in the White House on Thursday.

I had picked up my ticket on Tuesday at the Senate Press Gallery. I arrived at the entrance of the seating area for the inaugural about 10:30 a.m., 90 minutes before showtime. After about 15 minutes chatting with a few over-bundled reporters, I was past the gate.

The screening of my equipment and body was over quickly. I had been dreading it ever since attending the Republican National Convention, where I was thoroughly searched.

It was after military ushers showed me to my seat that I realized I was directly in front of the podium, down about 20 feet from where the swearing-in was going to take place. "Wow," I thought to myself. "If I were any closer I could hold the Bible for him."

There were dozens of recognizable faces. I watched as Supreme Court Justices chatted among themselves, including Savannah's Justice Clarence Thomas.

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., who might have been sworn in himself Thursday had be won as the Democratic challenger to Bush, also stood nearby.

Kerry appeared to be in a good mood. He snatched a cowboy hat off of the head of Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., who was seated in front of him.

Kerry held the hat in the air as though he were riding a horse and yelling "yee-haw." I watched as Kerry put the hat back on Baucus' head, patted it, laughed and took his seat.

Although the senators were only about 50 feet away where I was sitting, the noise was such that I couldn't hear anything. Military songs were being played in the background by the U.S. Marine Corp. Band which had perhaps 50 members. They were located in front of and below the podium.

Former Sen. Zell Miller and Gov. Sonny Perdue were seated together about 30 feet from Kerry and Chambliss. Farther from the podium was former mayor of New York Rudy Guiliani. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger also was in the crowd.

Near the podium, a series of dignitaries - including former presidents Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Jimmy Carter - were introduced to the crowd, eliciting rousing cheers.

Members of the cabinet were introduced, as was newly retired Colin Powell, former secretary of state.

Ironically, not all the seats were filled. While I noticed at least two Secret Service agents, with trademark sunglasses and earpieces, they were not immediately recognizable.

The temperature was in the low-30s but it didn't feel like a biting cold. It was enough to make my ears numb. But the excitement helped to make the chill manageable.

The crowd continued to grow. Then, about seven minutes before noon, Vice President Dick Cheney, accompanied by his wife and daughters, arrived at the podium. With them was House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., who swore-in Cheney as vice president of the United States. Cheney did not give a speech.

About four minutes before noon the president arrived along with Laura Bush and their twin daughters. Next to them stood Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist.

The swearing in took a little more than a minute. Although I heard the oath of office, I was more focused on shooting photos.

Then Bush spoke to the thousands assembled on the lawn and across the nation.

Most cheered. There was one person who yelled at the president, shouting anti-war slogans and booing. Although he drew a lot of attention for a short period of time, the crowd quickly drowned him out.

Then, it was over before I knew it. Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., the chairman of the inaugural committee, led the president away from the podium, followed by his family, the vice president, and then the rest of the crowd.

I'm going to frame my orange ticket. I may be a journalist, but I am never going to forget covering the inauguration.

Lewis Levine writes about Bryan and Liberty counties for the Savannah Morning News.